3 City Commission Seats Will Be Up For Grabs In November

Deltona

Don Foss, Wayne Gardner And Carolyn Carbonell, Who Were Elected In 1995, Have Said They Will Not Seek Second Terms.

January 31, 1999|By Ann Givens of The Sentinel Staff

DELTONA - Three of the city's seven commissioners have announced that they will not seek re-election in November.

District 2 Commissioner Don Foss, District 4 Commissioner Wayne Gardner and District 6 Commissioner Carolyn Carbonell have said they will not seek second terms.

The three were all elected to four-year terms in 1995 when the city was first incorporated. The other four commissioners, Carl Carey, Mayor John Masiarczyk, Jose Perez and Lucille Wheatley, were elected to two-year terms in 1995, and were re-elected to four-year terms in 1997.

Foss said he never intended to serve more than one term.

He said he decided to run for the position only days before the deadline because he was dissatisfied with the other candidates. He said he hoped that, during his four-year term, a qualified candidate would come forward to replace him.

Foss said he doesn't know whether a candidate he approves of will run in his district in November.

``But if they don't, I'm not going to sit around and wait any longer,'' he said.

Carbonell and Gardner have both said they have decided not to run again because of personal and professional obligations. However, both also said they may run for office again in the future.

Since Carbonell ran four years ago, she has had a second child and has been hired as assistant principal at Deltona High School.

``A lot has changed,'' she said. ``It's time to go for some professional goals, and spend more time with my family.''

Gardner said he plans to devote time to his business and to several home projects.

``Because I am self-employed, every time I take time off from work it's a financial burden,'' Gardner said. ``I cannot afford to be a commissioner right now.''

City Clerk Faith Miller said people interested in running for City Commission seats may pick up petition papers at City Hall. Candidates must gather 100 signatures in their district by Aug. 2. The election will be Nov. 2.